With sophisticated weapons and deadly accuracy, waves of upgraded Skull Soldiers charged forward unrelentingly. They came from all across the world, and their numbers demonstrate how well the IPC had prepared for this occasion. Luke, Maya, and Taz were pushed to the edge by each wave of opponents who were harder, quicker, and more skilful.
"Hold your ground!" Luke yelled, his voice like a whip piercing the clamour.
His keen eyes peered over the battlefield from his high vantage point. In his hands, the Skull Sniper shone in the flaming light of the raging conflict.
"Clear the sky, Maya! Hold the front, Taz! I will protect the flank.
Luke aimed and shot. Every pull of the trigger produced deadly repercussions, and every shot from his Skull Sniper was a stream of blue light. Bursts of shimmering light took down Skull Soldiers trying to outflank his troops. On a hit, his skull-shaped rounds detonated.
Luke changed to his Skull Pistols as the troops drew closer, using both weapons with lethal precision. Energy blasts from the guns tore through armour, with each shot being calibrated to do the most damage possible. He ducked and weaved between the hostile ranks with seamless efficiency.
Maya was a haze of golden light over the ants. She was invincible due to her Light Speed Flight, which allowed her to dodge enemy fire like a comet gliding across the sky. The battleground below was ignited as her Flaming White Feathers showered down. As the flaming flames consumed the soldiers, they yelled.
"EAT DIRT!" "I said," she said.
Latent energy from the battlefield was drawn into Maya's body as she stretched out. She summoned a huge energy sword, its blade pulsing with bright light, her figure shimmering with power.
She shouted, "Try this on for size!" and dove into a group of skilled Skull Soldiers. Like butter, her energy blade sliced through them.
"Come at me, you cowards!" Taz's voice echoed with a savage intensity as he yelled. A single stomp caused flames to rise from the earth, quickly consuming a dozen adversaries. With every assault, his wickedness was fuelled by the intensity of the flaming aura around him.
Taz moved wildly yet strategically, maximising damage with each spear strike and fire blast. Taz released a tremendous jet of flame that reduced a particularly big squad of highly armoured Skull Soldiers to ash in a matter of seconds as they advanced.
"MY SKULL MASK IS SUPERIOR, DARRIS SOILDERS SUCK!" He Yelled
A squadron of drones appeared from the smoke-filled sky as Luke, Maya, and Taz battled the enhanced Skull Soldiers with all of their might. Their red lights flashed menacingly as they hovered over the battlefield, small, sleek, and deadly silent.
"What on earth are those?" Maya yelled while serving in the air and avoiding a barrage of energy bursts.
Luke looked up and used his sniper's accuracy to detect the drones. "We're not for them. They are transmitting.
If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.
“To whom are you broadcasting?” said Taz
Luke's mouth clenched. "To all of you."
Darris and Lee stop moving. “Dammit more distractions but that’s okay. Listen to what’s about to happen Lee Beckton” said Darris arrogantly.
Lee was not fazed. He unfrozes and starts fighting Darris again.
Crowds gathe red around enormous screens that flashed to life, and the once-bustling streets of Havel City were eerily silent. The battlefield's pandemonium was captured in the drone feed.
The crowd erupted in gasps as Amir's face emerged.
He started by pointing to the conflict behind him and saying, "This is the world's reality now." Your so-called heroes are these. Pointing at Lee on the screen, he remarked, "This man was once your protector, the one you trusted to keep you safe." Now, however, look at him. Look at who he has become.”
The screen zoomed in on Lee, his red energy crackling like wildfire as he clashed with Darris, their powers colliding in devastating explosions that left craters in the earth.
“Lee Beckton,” Amir continued, “a man tied to the Skull Realm, harnessing powers none of you can comprehend. Ask yourselves this: Who can stop him if he decides to turn against you? If his justice no longer aligns with yours? Is this the kind of power you’re willing to place your faith in?”
The audience's gaze darted from the television to one another as they spoke in terror. A few held frantically to the belief that Lee was still fighting for them, while others looked shocked and unsure.
"What In Tarnation"
"Lee, try not to think about him!" Maya let out another volley of flaming feathers and shouted out in a strained voice.
Darris smiled slyly, his aura of silver throbbing. It appears that your fan club is reconsidering. I can't hold them responsible. You do appear a little... hideous.
Lee growled and slammed his sword into Darris's, sending a tremor throughout the battlefield as a result of their collision. "Stop talking!"
Darris chuckled and deflected Lee's next blow with ease. "Come on, Beckton. They don't need a hero like you. You are only an additional weapon that is simply ready to be aimed incorrectly.
Lee's crimson energy flared brighter as he roared. "I'm not battling for their acceptance. I will stop at nothing to stop you!”
With his Skull Sniper slung across his back, Luke took a step forward. Overhead, the drones hovered menacingly, their cameras trained on the carnage.
"You don't know me," he said in a hard and unyielding tone, "Havel City." However, you are familiar with Lee.
As his comments reverberated through the streets, the city's citizens gazed in shocked stillness, the tension evident. His eyes were piercing and determined, and his face was unwavering on the screen.
"Those who terrorised your streets have been defeated by Lee, who has fought and suffered for you. This isn't the tale that Amir is telling you."
Luke took a moment to process what he had said.
"Yes, he’s done things that might raise eyebrows, but he’s never taken advantage of anyone. He didn’t fight for himself; he fought for you. For justice. He risked his life to bring down the real villains."
Luke persisted.
Remember Winston Wright? The bastard who used the Skull Mask to destroy lives? Lee stopped him when no one else could. And because of him, crimes in Havel went down. Not by fear, but because he protected you."
The street attitude started to subside. Those who had been sceptical of Lee suddenly drew closer to the screens, their suspicions began to wane.
Luke shifted his focus to the larger group, addressing the globe with his comments. There was an indisputable edge to his voice as it became harsher.
Luke spit out, "And now we’ve got Amir," his contempt clear.
“This guy wants you to believe that Lee is the danger. That the power he wields is something to fear. But take a good, hard look at who’s pulling the strings here. Amir’s got you watching this, scared, because he knows that if people like Lee exist if people like us fight back then no one can stop the real monsters. Monsters like him."
"You're scared because you don't realise how powerful Lee is. I understand. You've never seen anything like it. But consider this: has he ever betrayed you? Has he ever caused you harm? He has battled for you and with you. He has been here from the beginning.
Every viewer in the world was pierced through Luke’s words on Lee.
Let me remind you of Lee's opponents if you believe he poses a threat. Darris. Amir. These are the actual threats that you need to be wary about. They aim to deceive you, influence you, and give you the impression that those who stand up for justice are the bad guys. Look at the enemy soldiers we are up against. Most of them were previously human, but those two took away their freedom to attack us.
His voice rose with faith as he made one last step forward.
"You should support Lee Beckton if you still have any faith in the individuals who have put their lives in danger to keep you safe. Support him in the same manner that he has supported you."
The transmission returned to the action, showing Lee and Darris engaged in combat with a force that rocked the planet. However, the world's attention had changed. Cheering broke out in Havel City. As some yelled Lee's name, their faith was rekindled, and the murmurs of support became louder.
“DARRIS NO MORE PLAYING YOUR ACTIONS WILL BE PAID BY THE DEATH OF MY Evil,” Lee said as his face started to grow sharper as he stared down Darris.
“I WON’T DIE BY THE LIKES OF YOU!”